Chocolate Pie with Pretzel Crust

Chocolate Pie with a Pretzel Crust and Peanut Butter swirls. My boys and I worked together to make this perfect-for-Daddy birthday pie. (Which is why I have no pictures of the process, sorry.)

What You Need:
2 cups crushed pretzels
1/2 cup melted butter
3 eggs (separated)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups heavy cream
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4-1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

Make the Crust:
Preheat oven to 350-degrees (F).
Crush pretzels to small crumbs and pour into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Melt the butter. Add to the pretzel crumbs, and stir to combine.
Separate one egg. Add the egg white to the pretzel mixture. Place the egg yolk into another small mixing bowl.
Mix the egg white with the pretzel crumbs and butter (be sure to add the white after you've combined the butter and crumbs or you could heat the white too much).
Press the pretzel mixture into an 8-9" pie pan. (This is sticky business.)
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the crust is crispy and golden.

Make the Filling:
While the crust is baking, make the chocolate filling.
Whisk the two remaining eggs, and the one yolk with the sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl until well-combined and airy.
Heat the cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat until bubbles form around the edges.
Slowly pour the heated cream into the egg mixture, whisking constantly while pouring a thin stream of hot cream into the eggs. (Being careful not to "cook" the eggs.) When it's fully combined, pour the mixture back into the pan, and heat over medium heat until it thickens.
Remove from heat, and add the chocolate chips. Stir well to combine.

Make the Pie and Chill overnight:
Pour the filling into the pie crust.
Add the peanut butter. (I warmed the peanut butter in the microwave for 20 seconds, then poured it into a zip-top sandwich bag. Cut the corner, and squeezed it onto the top of the pie. If you want it to swirl down into the pie, use a butter knife to swirl it in.)

Refrigerate for at least 5 hours to overnight.

Note: This is very, very rich pie. Cut into small pieces and serve with milk or coffee!